Chapter 36

**Nova**


Eli left me sitting on the bed as he prepared me something to eat. He wasn’t kidding about feeding me. I am happy to let him splurge on his needs since he hasn’t gotten much attention from me recently. It’s hard keeping all these men happy when I keep getting pulled away. There is also so much that needs to be done and it feels like there isn’t enough time to do it all.

I have to accept that it’s up to me to figure all this out since the experiments have been going on so long and no one has done a thing to stop them. I’m a product of success but I will make them wish that they never created me. A monster ready to kill it’s creators…how poetic.

When Eli returns he is carrying a large platter with several plates on it. I gawk at the spread and even though it all looks beautiful, I want to jump him for being so sweet. Maybe it won’t be so hard to keep up with these guys after all because I was with Asher not long ago and I would be happy to let Eli do whatever he wants to me right now. His eyes met mine and his nostrils flared.

“I smell your need mate, but you must eat first.” He says firmly with no room for negotiation.

I huff out my protest before picking up a plate of cut fruit and popped a piece in my mouth.

“Where did all this come from?” I ask him.

There weren’t an abundant amount of fruit trees or crops around here.

“The Mages cultivated the land and grew many things.” He explains.

I stop chewing for a second to look at him in disbelief. “They grew all of this. In a matter of an hour?”

He nods. “They have a way with the elements, and it is a good thing because you will have plenty to eat.”

It’s sweet how much he wants to take care of me but I wonder if I should tell him that blood is usually enough to sustain me just fine. The look of satisfaction on his face as he watches me eat convinces me to wait on that conversation. He continues to watch me as I sample everything, he has offered me. Everything is new to me and so far, there isn’t one thing I don’t like.

“Have you made these things before?” He must have for them to come out this good.

He nods. “These are dishes we eat often at my home. Volcanic soil is the most fertile.”

“Wow, that’s cool. I hope I can see your home one day.”

He doesn’t smile much but in that moment, I get something close to it. “I would like that very much my mate. My family looks forward to meeting you as well.”

That makes me a little nervous. Would his family approve of him being mated to me? I’m not sure I am considered the ideal mate for any of these guys given h0ow Charles’s father reacted, but I hope at least one likes me.

“Do you think they would be willing to join us? I mean to take down the experiments?” I ask him.

He doesn’t hesitate to answer. “Of course, they will. My people are warriors at heart, but have not had a reason to fight ion a long time. They would enjoy the pleasure of war again.”

This time he crosses his arms over his impressive chest and smirks.

“That’s good to hear.” I smile at him and take another bite of food.

This one is different from the others. Most of the food had a lot of vegetables and fruit but not much else. This food was a whole new thing that I have never tasted before. It’s some sort of meat like thing with a spicy and sweet taste to it that I can’t figure out. So many flavors are going off in my mouth that I can’t make sense of it all. The only thing I can say is that it tastes amazing and I can’t help but let out a moan of appreciation.

“Wow, this is so good.” I take another bite and close my eyes to enjoy the taste.
A low growl vibrates the bed making my eyes fly open. Eli is breathing harder, and his eyes are fixed on my lips.

“What’s wrong?” Did I do something he didn’t like?

“Sounds like that are dangerous little mate.” His voice is deeper, and he looks as if he’s grown in size.

What is happening right now? Is he about to shift? Crap he can’t in this place it’s too small!

“I’m sorry Eli. I’ll stop just calm down.” I say trying to calm him.

“Too late.” He says.

I scramble back and watch him grow bigger. Scales begin to appear and his face morphs into the shape of his dragon. Our little hut home is small but thankfully it seems to contain him when he finally finishes shifting. There is barely enough room for me though.

“Eli! Shift back now!” I yell while I stand with my hands on my hips. “This is ridiculous.”

His dragon growls and lowers his head so that he can blow out a whiff of smoke in my face. I wave the smoke away from my face and scowl at him.

“Stop messing around you giant lizard! What is all this about?”

Seriously this is ruining the sexy images I was having of us. With a huff I march around his huge tail so that I can stand directly in front of him.

“Look Dragon boy you need to shrink back to man size, or you aren’t mating with anyone tonight!” I yell up at him.

His dragon huffs and it sounds a little too much like he’s laughing at me. I’m ready to go off again when his tail wraps around my waist.

“Hey!” I try to squirm but not even my strength is enough to break me free.

I cross my arms and let out another pathetic huff. “This isn’t right. You’re stronger than me right now. The odds aren’t in my favor.”

He lifts me up until we’re face to face and when I meet his eyes I see a familiarity there. How much of Eli is still inside him when he’s in this form?

“Eli? Can you hear me?” I test.

A puff of smoke is his answer. So, he can understand me.

“Okay, if you understand me then why won’t you shift back?” Of course, I forget that he won’t be able to answer me. “This is stupid! How am I going to communicate with you when you’re in this form?”

Yell more like it, but still…

I’m shocked out of my annoyance when his face moves closer to me and tilts slightly. My whole body freezes in fear at how close he is and for a second I consider the damage he could do to me. Eli wouldn’t hurt me but this is his animal, and wild animals are always dangerous. To my surprise he carefully brushes the side of my neck with his nose and breaths in deep. A low rumble comes from him before he nudges my cheek. He pulls back and there is a softness to his face which should be hard to make out on a dragon. Maybe it’s in his eyes or I could be imagining it.

I watch him carefully, but he doesn’t make another move for a long time. Then he slowly sets me down but not on my feet. He shifts me in his tail so that I’m laying down in front of him. When he releases me I stay perfectly still but my heart is racing. What is he about to do?

He lifts one of his claws and places one very sharp tip on my chest just above the top hem of my shift. Now I’m holding my breath, but the nail doesn’t break the skin. Instead, it slices through my clothes in one swift motion. With all my clothes pulled away I lay in front of a giant dragon fully naked. Can’t say I imagined a scene like this would ever happen to me even after knowing what Eli is.

I expect him to shift, but instead he pushes my legs apart with the same claw he used to remove my clothes. My mind is racing with images of how this could work, but I’m not sure how dragon anatomy works. My guess is everything is huge and that’s a scary thought. Do dragons mate in their animal form? Is that why he’s doing this? That’s freaking crazy, but I can’t seem to verbalize my shock or any form of objective. I’ll be honest though…I’m curious.

Once he is happy with my position he lowers his head and opens his large mouth.

Is he going to eat me? I should probably run but I still can’t seem to speak or move at all.

When I finally find the energy to try to escape his very long tongue appears and he runs it between my legs.

Oh my god!